Pontypridd and Cross Keys to contest the Welsh Cup final

Pontypridd RFC and Cross Keys RFC both booked their places in the 2025 Welsh Cup final at the Principality Stadium following the two semi-final ties played on Saturday 1st March.

Ponty triumphed 53-14 against Newbridge at the Lextan Gnoll after a nine-try blitz. The Valley Commandos put in a commanding performance to book their place in the showcase final for the first time since 2017. Head Coach Kristian Parker was delighted with the team’s showing and said:

“It’s been a long time coming for Ponty. The fans deserved this more than anyone today, they’ve stuck with us through thick and thin and it was all about them today and bringing those glory days hopefully back to Ponty.

I take my hat off to Newbridge they stayed in that contest for eighty minutes and they threw everything to us so big credit to them. But the boys came out all guns blazing that first forty, I think we really set the tone and showed the Ponty DNA of playing with speed, tempo, intent and aggression and that’s what we need to see now for the rest of the season.”

The other semi-final between Merthyr and Cross Keys was played at Bargoed Park, and what a semi-final it was! The Ironmen raced into a 14-0 lead after 22 minutes of play before being pegged back to 14-all at half time. The Wern men looked to have done enough to book their place in the final as well, but Cross Keys had other ideas and a late try and conversion once again levelled things up at 26 points apiece, and the match went into extra time. Both teams scored tries in extra time, but a late Keys penalty-goal sealed a huge win for the Pandy Park men by 36 points to 31.

The 2025 final will be a repeat of the finals in 2012 and 2014 when both clubs played each other in pursuit of silverware. Keys won 32-19 in 2012, but Ponty got their revenge a couple of years later when they lifted the famous old trophy following a 21-8 triumph in 2014.

This year’s final will take place on Saturday 5th April 2025, so our home league fixture against Neath RFC will now need to be rearranged. We have listed the Cup Final kick-off time on our website as 3pm, but please note that this is NOT confirmed – as soon as it is we will relay all the key information to our supporters.

The Ponty Supporters Club will be organising transport to the final, all the finer detail for this and match tickets will be relayed to you all in due course.

CONFIRMATION: 2025 Welsh Cup Final – Pontypridd v Cross Keys: Saturday 5th April, kick-off time to be confirmed

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